India: The first 24 hrs
Passing security in Cairo was much easier than I thought. They x-rayed but didn’t really check my bags. I had a lot of time left over and I was left to my thoughts.
Cairo was LOUD. Loud and challenging but kind of beautiful in its own way. Going from Cairo to New Delhi didn’t promise much of a change in the sound department, but something called me to India some time ago (Julia Roberts in “Eat, Pray, Love may also have something to do with it) and I was taking the flight and leap of faith and felt really excited about it.
The weather outside was perfect. Well… maybe a bit hot but still, there was the sun shining and the puffy, white clouds in the sky. The next morning, the weather was similar, maybe a bit cloudier due to the fog. I took my time stepping out of the airport, I heard a lot of stories about India, but of course, as you know, it’s always a one-sided perspective and experience and many factors can change your own time there.
Still, I was preparing mentally for what could be outside of the squeaky-clean floors and well-lit hallways. I stalled, talking to one of my good friends, Ro (who by the way, is doing amazing in his travels through Southeast Asia) until finally, we gave each other the courage to explore our respective cities.
Something about the energy felt different than Egypt though, less guarded somehow… I could also see monks walking up and down the halls, colorful dresses worn by black-haired women, and an aura of spirituality in even a chaotic setting such as an airport.
Flying from Cairo to Delhi, 11 hours later…
Finally, I stepped out. I took an Uber and headed towards New Friends Colony, where I was meant to stay one day. On the way, there are so many tuk tuk (motorcycle taxis), marigold flowers, (October is the beginning of Navaratri, an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of the goddess Durga), people praying to different deities: blue bodies, multiple arms, typically beautiful faces. I was so expectant to know all of those names. Just like Cairo, there was also a somehow secret language of trucks, tuk tuks, cars, and motorcycles almost crashing into each other but not quite. It was mesmerizing to watch. Adrenaline-like in a way to also be in the middle of all of it.
Past the initial fascination, I also had a bit of trouble adjusting. Latin America is loud too, but in a different way. I thought my training, growing up in Mexico would have prepared me easily.
It did in a way, but still, I was not quite ready for all of the culture shocks. I’ll get into that in another story, but for now, I’ll add that having an open mind and open heart will always help. The comparison game can be a two-sided sword and we can’t expect things to always be the same as we know them. That’s also why we try different things, right?
So, I was dropped off in a residential setting and I wondered how a hostel was nestled in there? I checked in, dropped my bags, and dropped my eyelids, finally. I meant to explore but I was exhausted and passed out.
When I woke up, I did manage to visit the Lotus Temple and Humayun's tomb. The Lotus Temple offered a promise to “unite everyone and everyone welcome, despite their religion” and I was really drawn to that. This trip has been a lot about religion, and also, coming from the Middle East and the recent conflict (October 2023) that has risen, seeking faith and spirituality was something that called deeply to me.
Humayun's Tomb
I still had a bit of time, so, one tuk tuk drive away for 30 minutes later, I arrived to Akshardham- which means divine abode of God. It is a Hindi Temple I also had the chance to visit. It’s STUNNING. The capital letters are no joke. The amount of detail that went into the elaboration took my breath away. I stared in quiet admiration, gasping here and there, and even took part in a nighttime prayer with candles and incense. I closed my eyes in bliss.
Lotus Temple or Baháʼí House of Worship
Another thing that is worth mentioning is that there are no phones allowed inside Akshardham. I asked a woman at the counter and she said there were terrorisim concerns. I nodded and paid attention- in our modern world, it’s so common to see people with phones everywhere. But with the no-phone-rule, it was more peaceful in a way. You really could appreciate everything without the background noise of the “perfect Instagram photo” because you had no option but to be there.
With this visit, I circle back to my first 24 hours in India. I walked around for a bit more, appreciating the stories, the art, the marble elephants around the temple as the sun set and the neon, beige lights made everything richer. With the dark settling in, I called an Uber motorcycle back to New Friends Colony, had a small dinner and got ready for my night bus to Rishikesh.
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Humayun’s Tomb and its peaceful gardens. Not pictured: the apple I was eating and the pigeon next to me.
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